Head of State conveys condolences to Queen Elizabeth II and royal family

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 17 April 2021, 10:00AM

The Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, has conveyed his condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the United Kingdom on the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Head of State’s condolences were expressed by way of a Condolence Book that is on display at the British High Commission in Samoa.

The book, set up on a table among fresh flower bouquets in the High Commission’s conference room, where large photographs of the Queen and Prince Philip hang on the walls, was placed on display early this week. 

It is one of just a handful of physical books, five or six, that are open around the world on the occasion of Prince Philip’s passing, said British High Commissioner to Samoa, His Excellency David Ward during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

Prince Philip visited Samoa twice – in 1972 and in 1977.

On his first visit, he traveled by himself. On Prince Philip’s second visit in 1977, he accompanied the Queen on her Silver Jubilee Tour of the Pacific on their Royal Yacht the HMY Brittania. They docked in Samoa on 1 February, 1977. 

At the time, the current Head of State was an inspector with the Samoa Police. 

The Head of State of Samoa in 1977 was the late Malietoa Tanumafili II. 

“We were honoured and I think the memory of Prince Philip was honoured by His Highness, the Head of State’s decision yesterday to come and sign the book personally,” said Mr. Ward.

“He shared with me his own memories of when he was a police officer in the Samoa Police in 1977 when His Royal Highness and Her Majesty visited Samoa on their yacht the Britannia. Sadly he was unable, personally, to meet His Royal Highness on that occasion.”

Photographs capturing the royals’ 1977 visit grace the walls of the British High Commission.

One photo shows the Queen and Prince Philip on the wharf after they arrived in Samoa. Escorting them from their yacht are His Highness Malietoa and Speaker of the House Leota Leuluaiali'i Ituau Ale. 

“There is a photo of the Queen reviewing the police that was at the wharf where she had just come off her yacht or ship and she is with the then police commissioner reviewing the Samoan police. The current Head of State was an Inspector in the police but he was not of that parade,” Mr. Ward explained.

Although the Head of State Tumalealiifano was not the first to sign the Condolence Book, the front page was left open especially for him. Tuimalealiifano visited the British High Commission on Thursday to add his name to the book. 

“We opened the book earlier in the week so he was not the first person because his schedule of course is very busy, but we made sure that we kept the front page open for him so that his signature is the first one,” Mr. Ward said. 

“Many of them are representatives of other organisations including other embassies and high commissions in Samoa and also some government organisations and newly-elected Members of Parliament..." 

He explained that when a public figure or a leader of government or the state passes away in the United Kingdom, a Condolence Book is often opened to allow people, who wish to express sadness and best wishes to those they leave behind, to sign their name and to leave a message. 

“Normally we open such Condolence Books at all of our embassies and high commissions around the world and also have a Condolence Book in the United Kingdom as well for members of the public. Sadly, because of the COVID restrictions in Europe and in many places around the world, we were unable to open physical Condolence Books on this occasion,” said Mr. Ward.

“But because Samoa is free from COVID, and some other countries in the Pacific are also free from COVID, in this part of the world some of our high commissions have been able to open a Condolence Book which we have made available to members of the public... to come and sign should they wish to express their condolences and best wishes to those he leaves behind including Her Majesty [Queen Elizabeth II].”

The United Kingdom has some 250 embassies, commissions and consulates around the world. 

“I think it’s 250 offices overseas in probably about 160 countries but I’m not sure of the exact figures though,” Mr. Ward said.

For the first time, Buckingham Palace has opened an online Condolence Book, he noted. 

“For those elsewhere in the world who are unable to sign a physical book or those here who are unable to make the journey, for the first time Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom has opened an online Condolence Book. It’s a new thing but I think something that would be much in line with Prince Philip’s wishes,” Mr. Ward said.

“Throughout his life, he was always a sponsor of new technology and an early adopter of new technology. He was one of the first people to use a mobile phone in the United Kingdom and also I think one of the first people to use email. I think he sent his first email in the 1970s when most of us had no knowledge of it but no access to the sort of computers and technology to be able to do so. He was always an early adopter and I think he would probably have been a supporter of this online Condolence Book.”

Prince Philip passed away peacefully in his home at Windsor Castle on Saturday, 10 April, 2021 Samoa Time (Friday, 9 April, 2021 in London).

He was 99 years old.

It was exactly two months before his 100th birthday, said H.E. Ward.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born on 10 June, 1921.

Funeral services are scheduled to begin at 3 a.m. Samoa Time on Sunday morning. There will be online stream of Prince Philip's funeral services from St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on www.bbc.co.uk.

“He died sadly two months before his 100th birthday. If he had lived to June the tenth, he would have been 100 and many people in the United Kingdom were looking forward to celebrate that at a time when we’ve had a long period of difficulty with the pandemic,” His Excellency told the Observer.

“We were hoping that that might be a time for public celebration as the worst of the pandemic counter-measures are being eased but sadly that was not to be and he passed away peacefully, for that we are grateful, Friday last week the ninth of April.”

The Condolence Book from Samoa will be sent to the United Kingdom.

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 17 April 2021, 10:00AM
Samoa Observer

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